10 most memorable moments in Camden Yards history

Baltimore Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron

The at-bat itself wasn't much. The rookie catcher flied out to right in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers. It turned into a double play when Melvin Mora attempted to tag from second. But what was memorable about this was the hype that was created. Wieters, perhaps the most heralded prospect in club history, created so much buzz on his debut that approximately 10,000 people bought tickets after it was announced he would be playing that Friday. In fact, the announcement was made by club president Andy MacPhail during a MASN telecast days earlier. When Wieters stepped to the plate in the second inning, the ovation was deafening. He went hitless in the game.

The at-bat itself wasn't much. The rookie catcher flied out to right in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers. It turned into a double play when Melvin Mora attempted to tag from second. But what was memorable about this was the hype that was created. Wieters, perhaps the most heralded prospect in club history, created so much buzz on his debut that approximately 10,000 people bought tickets after it was announced he would be playing that Friday. In fact, the announcement was made by club president Andy MacPhail during a MASN telecast days earlier. When Wieters stepped to the plate in the second inning, the ovation was deafening. He went hitless in the game. (Baltimore Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron)

It was the longest home opener, innings-wise, in stadium history, a 6-5, 13-inning victory over the Cleveland Indians. But what's remembered from this game was a freak snow squall in the second and third innings that eventually halted play for 13 minutes. There were two lasting images: Orioles starter Rodrigo Lopez throwing off the mound surrounded by quarter-sized snowflakes, and right fielder Jay Gibbons with his hands in the air as a pop fly from Ellis Burks bounced somewhere in his vicinity. It was ruled an RBI single, though no one, including the umpires, was sure where the ball landed. Gibbons quipped later: "That's probably the first time I ever thought, 'Don't hit it to me.'"

It was the longest home opener, innings-wise, in stadium history, a 6-5, 13-inning victory over the Cleveland Indians. But what's remembered from this game was a freak snow squall in the second and third innings that eventually halted play for 13 minutes. There were two lasting images: Orioles starter Rodrigo Lopez throwing off the mound surrounded by quarter-sized snowflakes, and right fielder Jay Gibbons with his hands in the air as a pop fly from Ellis Burks bounced somewhere in his vicinity. It was ruled an RBI single, though no one, including the umpires, was sure where the ball landed. Gibbons quipped later: "That's probably the first time I ever thought, 'Don't hit it to me.'" (Baltimore Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam)

As Camden Yards prepares to open its 20th-anniversary season Friday when the Orioles face the Minnesota Twins, one can't help but look back on all the memorable moments that have occurred at the stadium. Picking the top 10 isn't easy — there are probably 25, maybe 50 moments that could have made the list, and full games were not taken into consideration. (We'll have a list of the 10 most memorable games in the stadium's history Tuesday.) But when you close your eyes and try to visualize Camden Yards, these are the 10 that stick out most, with one honorable mention added for good measure. — Dan Connolly